Page 12 of A Powerful Attraction
Both women looked up. “Good morning,” they said in unison.
Gina, his secretary, coupled the greeting with a wide smile. Efficient and friendly, she wore her hair in a thick Afro that framed her face. Sherry, however, returned her attention to the computer almost immediately.
“Good morning,” Alex said. He marched to the door, thinking he should take a moment to regroup before calling Sherry into a meeting, but changed his mind at the last minute. His gaze slid to her backside in the horizontally striped pencil skirt as she remained bent over Gina’s desk. “Sherry, may I see you in my office, please?”
She straightened. “Now?”
“Yes, now.”
“I’ll show you how to do part two when I get finished,” she said to Gina.
“Thank you,” Gina said.
Alex entered the office and walked behind his desk, putting as much distance between him and Sherry and possible. He placed his briefcase flat on top of the neat surface and turned on the TV secured to the wall. It remained on mute, displaying the latest in stock market news. He waited as Sherry closed the door and came forward. She clasped her hands together in front of her.
“I’ve had some time to think about this weekend,” he began. He fiddled with papers on his desk. The urge to pull her close and press her soft body into his was too strong. “Of course I realize I complicated the situation with that last…episode, for lack of a better word. But what I initially said still holds true. We can’t cross the line again, and my concern is that because of what happened, working together will be a problem. Therefore, I’ve decided to remove you from the Ovation project. I think it’s best for both of us.” The silence in the room made him look up. Sherry’s lips were pressed together in a tight line.
“So you’re removing me because we had sex?” she asked.
“No.” That was exactly what he was doing.
“Are you sure? You’ve barely looked me in the eye since I walked in. I won’t tell anyone what we did. I won’t jeopardize your precious reputation.”
She appeared upset, which was not his intention. He was giving her a way out. Giving them both a way out of what would certainly be an uncomfortable work environment.
“I don’t care aboutmyreputation. If anyone’s reputation would be tarnished, it’s yours.”
“I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself. We agreed that what happened between us would never happen again. Why remove me from the project?”
He silently assessed her, the way she seemed emboldened, speaking in firmer tones. He’d never heard her speak in that tone before.
“We’re not animals who lack control. Surely we can keep our hands to ourselves and respect each other’s boundaries.”
Speak for yourself, Alex thought.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, and I want to help. This is the kind of thing I like to sink my teeth into,” Sherry continued.
The same way she’d sunk her teeth into his flesh.
“All right, if you’re sure and this is what you want to do. We can continue to work together if it doesn’t make you uncomfortable.” Alex snapped open his briefcase.
“Working with you doesn’t make me uncomfortable, Alex.”
His gaze flew to hers. She’d said his name in the same soft, breathy voice she’d used when they’d made love. Gooseflesh rose on his skin as he remembered all the ways she’d said his name.
Yes, Alex, yes.
Please, Alex.
Oh god, Alex.
He sat in the chair to hide the erection that started rearing its head. “All right. We finish the project and keep our hands to ourselves.” He hoped he wouldn’t regret this decision.
“Thank you.”
She spun around and walked toward the door. His gaze dropped to her round bottom, which had more than adequately cushioned his thrusts. He’d tasted every inch of her, so it was impossible to forget anything they did. Impossible to forget how tight and wet she’d been, or the perfection of her caramel-tipped breasts. How was he supposed to get any work done with those memories stamped in his brain?
He was doomed.
